This is such a concise and elegant treatise against the idolization of the "job creator" class that I am tempted to make a needlepoint quilt out of it to comfort me in my darker, colder days.
When our second cousin attained a certain level of wealth, he fully embraced Ayn Rand-style libertarianism. Like a lot of stupid libertarians, he thought he was super smart. We totally stumped him when we asked "Who would be the police in your world? Who would protect your nice house and your wife's two Steinway grand pianos?" To say nothing of who would collect the garbage.
Admittedly, the hordes probably wouldn't take a pair of enormous pianos. At least not unless they were piano movers. But I was eleven when I argued thus. It did stump them.
Federal Income tax kicks in at 11,600 dollars of yearly income, less than a thousand a month people are expected to live on. The tax? 10 percent, and the rich often pay nothing.
"The fact is, we can survive just fine without the megarich (and would likely be better off) … but without us? It would be mighty hard for them to maintain the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed."
Problem is that SCROTUS has hinted that they would find a wealth tax unconstitutional. They heard a related case about a month ago -- must gains be realized, i.e. sold, to be taxed. We'll see how they rule but from oral arguments it's not looking rosy.
The way to tax large fortunes in America is to expressly exempt any money won in government lotteries. A lot of poor- and middle-income people have their dreams invested in those lotteries; if they believe their winnings won't be taxed they'll be just fine with the rest of the plutocrats being taxed.
I’m supposed to be an organ donor, upon my death? When one of these $$$ hoarding people will likely find a way to benefit, even over a more needing poorer person? And I had to fight to get the care outlined in my health insurance plan. Hell, even an upper middle class, or lower upper class person will likely get a benefit before a more needy lower class person.
This is such a concise and elegant treatise against the idolization of the "job creator" class that I am tempted to make a needlepoint quilt out of it to comfort me in my darker, colder days.
When our second cousin attained a certain level of wealth, he fully embraced Ayn Rand-style libertarianism. Like a lot of stupid libertarians, he thought he was super smart. We totally stumped him when we asked "Who would be the police in your world? Who would protect your nice house and your wife's two Steinway grand pianos?" To say nothing of who would collect the garbage.
Admittedly, the hordes probably wouldn't take a pair of enormous pianos. At least not unless they were piano movers. But I was eleven when I argued thus. It did stump them.
Yeah Robin!
I recently looked at the tax tables for 2024.
Federal Income tax kicks in at 11,600 dollars of yearly income, less than a thousand a month people are expected to live on. The tax? 10 percent, and the rich often pay nothing.
"The fact is, we can survive just fine without the megarich (and would likely be better off) … but without us? It would be mighty hard for them to maintain the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed."
That's why they're gonna replace us with robots.
This is a result of W's tax cuts.
He is still killing people.
George W. Bush should have been bundled off to the international criminal court at the Hague years ago.
Eat the rich
Feed the poor
until there are no rich anymore
Also "The existence of billionairs is a sign of policy failure.
I'm becoming a believer in pinata economics. It's like trickle down economics but we use sticks on the billionaires until the wealth falls out.
"if they choose not to have a car . . ."
maybe could be "If they choose not to have a car, boat, or private helicopter."
Problem is that SCROTUS has hinted that they would find a wealth tax unconstitutional. They heard a related case about a month ago -- must gains be realized, i.e. sold, to be taxed. We'll see how they rule but from oral arguments it's not looking rosy.
What does Leonard Leo want? 'Cause that's how they'll rule.
The new laws are not intended to "punish success" in the way that the megarich mean ... they are intended to punish success at being a tax cheat.
Thanks, Republicans!
Always remember, no matter the system, wealth trickles upwards. That's why redistribution is necessary or else those resources do no work.
If wealth doesn’t get redistributed, things like the French Revolution happen. Wonder if Muskrat likes the idea of a facing a guillotine.
The technology is too simple... gravity power. He'd expect some super-duper, solar powered head chopper at the very least.
He can get a laser guillotining. As a treat!
He'll get a brush axe and like it
how about a butter knife …
Or a spoon!
The way to tax large fortunes in America is to expressly exempt any money won in government lotteries. A lot of poor- and middle-income people have their dreams invested in those lotteries; if they believe their winnings won't be taxed they'll be just fine with the rest of the plutocrats being taxed.
Meanwhile, they give the state government TONS of money by purchasing lottery tickets.
Someone once referred to the lottery as a "voluntary state tax."
Taxes and tumbrels.
I’m supposed to be an organ donor, upon my death? When one of these $$$ hoarding people will likely find a way to benefit, even over a more needing poorer person? And I had to fight to get the care outlined in my health insurance plan. Hell, even an upper middle class, or lower upper class person will likely get a benefit before a more needy lower class person.
thats how dick cheney got his heart …
Yep. He was given a heart transplant when he was already very aged.
Mickey Mantle got a new liver...and kept on drinking.
Waste of an organ.
How can any of that trickle down onto the rest of us if it’s being hoarded like that? It’s almost like supply-side economics is total bullshit
Trickle down was always about Amazon River up.
Or might be best called "Tinkle-down economics".